Telephone cable assembly system

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses apparatus for winding strand units into a single cable, taping the cable and winding it on a revolving takeup cabler. The strand units pass directly from a spacer or lay plate to a twist compensator which winds the cables to a desired lay and which has wheels gripping the assembled strand units from opposite sides with sufficient force to twist them together but with the wheels on opposite sides of the cable staggered so that the strand units can move with respect to one another as they are twisted into the cable. The takeup cabler spool rotates about its axis to wind the cable and the spool also rotates on an axis about which the strand units are twisted and rotates at the same speed as the twist compensator or at a slightly higher speed. The apparatus is reversible.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Oscar G. Garner Riverside, Conn. [21]Appl. No. 846.074 122] Filed July 30, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971[73] Assignee General Cable Corporation New York. N.Y.Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 524,243, Feb. 1, 1966.

[54] TELEPHONE CABLE ASSEMBLY SYSTEM 7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 57/3, 57/13, 57/59, 57/66 [51] Int. Cl H011) 13/02, H01b13/08 [50] Field of Search 57/3,6, 13, 14, 59, 66, 66.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,911,925 5/1933 Reed57/66.5X

2,815,638 12/1957 Curtiss et a1. 57/3 X 2,933,880 4/1960 Pliaro 57/66.53,024,588 3/1962 Reichelt et al.. 57/66.5 3,030,762 4/1962 Pizzi 57/66.53,091,074 5/1963 Demmel 57/66.5 X 3,251,179 5/1966 Reichelt 57/66.5

Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Sandoe, Hopgood & CalimafdeABSTRACT: This specification discloses apparatus for winding strandunits into a single cable, taping the cable and winding it on arevolving takeup cabler. The strand units pass directly from a spacer orlay plate to a twist compensator which winds the cables to a desired layand which has wheels gripping the assembled strand units from oppositesides with sufficient force to twist them together but with the wheelson PATENTEI] SEP] 4191:

SHEET 1 UF 3 INVI'INTOR. OSCAR G.GARNER SQS: Eb 8.3

o vm in ATTORN EYS.

PATENTEUSEPMIQYI 3.604.192

I sum 2 OF 3 OSCAR G.GARNER 266 246 BY M mun... want ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED SEP] 4 l97| SHEET 3 0F 3 FIG. 9.

POWER LINE 1/306 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

TELEPHONE CABLE ASSEMBLY SYSTEM This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 524,243, filed Feb. I,1966, now abandoned.

' BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to themanufacture of telephone cables.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus forbringing together strand units, commonly known as telephone cable units,each of which is preferably made up of 25, 50 or 100 wire pairs,depending upon the size of the wire, and for twisting the strand unitsinto a cable, taping the cabled strand units, and winding the cable on areel. Some features of the invention can be used with apparatus wherethe strand units are single conductors or wire pairs.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character indicated withconstant tension payoffs for the strand units. A

constant tension payoff is advantageous when used in a system;

that has a capstan, but is a necessity and has outstanding advantagesin' retaining constant tension in all of the telephone cable strandunits irrespective of load, acceleration and deceleration of themachine, and other variable factors, and facilitates the assembly ofstrand units, cabling the units together and wrapping the assembly withtapes without requiring the use of a capstan in the system.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the taping of the cableand to maintain uniformity of the tape lay by providing a twistcompensator ahead of the taping station. This compensator prevents anytwisting or tension from developing between the compensator and thetakeup cabler on which the taped cable is wound on a reel. This makespossible a constant lay application of a paper tape by an essentiallyconventional taping head using a pad of the necessary size.

Still another object is to combine the revolving takeup cabler with atwist compensator having synchronous operation with the revolving takeupcabler, or overfeed at a slightly higher speed of from one-half percentto 1 percent. This slight excess of speed may be considered synchronousoperation. The twist compensator holds the cable against furthertwisting as the result of the revolving movement ofthe takeup cabler.

Still another object of this invention employing the revolving cabletakeup, the motor operated compensating taping head for the applicationof the belting tapes over the core, and the motor operated compensatingpayoff for the telephone cable units, is the ability of reversing themachine operation, facilitating the untwisting of the assembled cableand unwinding the tapes and cable units on both the respective tapinghead and payoffs. The machine can be reversed to perform in bothdirections if this proves necessary or advantageous for correction.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear orbe pointed out as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF'THE DRAWING In the drawing, forming a part hereof,in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in allthe views:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic assembly view of a telephone cable assemblysystem made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a portion of the system shownin FIG. 1 but with certain structure shown in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is an end view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of one of theconstant tension payoffs shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 with part of theapparatus shown in section on the line 44 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, theview being taken from the right of FIGS. 3 and 4 and being partly brokenaway along the section line 55 of FIG. 3 to show the supports for thereel;

.substantially FIG. 6 is a sectional view, on a greatly enlarged scale,taken on the lines 66 of FIG. 1, and is a sectional view on the samescale on the line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the rollers andsupporting frame of the twist compensator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 1

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the twist compensator structure shown inFIG. 7; H

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, diagrammatic, side elevation of tension controlapparatus for the taping head shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; I

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the course of the tape in theapparatus shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view on the line 1 l llof FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a wiring diagram for the control circuit of the tape reelmotors of FIGS. 9 and 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The telephone cable assemblysystem shown in FIG. 1 includes a payoff section 10 having a pluralityof individual payoffs 12 from which strand units of insulated pairedwires 14 are supplied through a lay plate or separator plate 16 to atwist compensator 18. The strand units 14 are twisted into a cable bythe twist compensator l8 and the cable, indicated by the referencecharacter 14a, travels from the twist compensator through a taping head22 which applies a spiral wrap of tape 24 to the cable 14a. The wrappedcable, designated by the reference character 14b, then passes into arevolving takeup cabler 28 which rotates in the same direction as thetwist compensator 18 and at substantially the same speed.

The revolving takeup cabler 28 includes a frame 30 rotatably supportedat one end by idler rollers 32; and this frame 30 has its other endsupported by a fixed bearing 34. The frame 30 is driven by power meansincluding an electric motor 36 which transmits motion to the frame 30through an endless belt or chain 38.

A reel 39 is carried by the frame 30 on stud axles 40 which can beprojected into the hub of the reel 39, or withdrawn from the hub, bymotors 42 operating motion-transmitting connections 44. Thus successivereels 39 can be inserted into the frame 30, and while in the frame 30,each reel 39 is rotated about the axis of the axles 40, by a motor whichdrives one of the axles 40, to pull the cable 14b through the system.The reel 39, also rotated about the axis of rotation, designated by thereference character 46, of the frame 30.

There are guide rollers 52 on axles supported by the frame 30 near theend of the frame through which the cable 14b enters and these guiderollers 52 define a roll pass substantially concentric with the axis 46and from which the cable 14b moves angularly as it wraps in successiveconvolutions axially along the reel 39.

The taping head 22 may be of substantially conventional construction. Itincludes two reels of paper, or other tape, and these reels are carriedby axles 72 on a frame 64 which rotates about the axis 46 of the system.It will be understood that the frame 64 is supported by bearings atfixed locations and such taping heads are well understood. In the systemillustrated, there is a measuring device 66 located between the tapinghead 22 and the revolving takeup cabler 28 for measuring the length ofcable supplied to the revolving takeup cabler.

The twist compensator 18 includes a plurality of upper rollers 70rotatable as idlers on axles 72 carried by a common frame 74. The twistcompensator also has lower rollers 76 on axles 78 carried 'by a frame 80and these rollers 76 preferably rotate as idlers.

The frames 74 and 80 are urged together, by mechanical means, which willbe described in connection with oneof the other FIGS., to grip thestrand units 14 which are pulled into the twist compensator from theseparator 16. The frames 74 and 80 are carried in a revolving frame 84supported by suitable bearings for rotation about the axis 46.

This frame 84 is driven, by the motor 36, through motiontransmittingmeans including a shaft 88, a transmission 90 and a belt or chain 92.

The same shaft 88 preferably drives the taping head 22 through atransmission 94 and a belt or chain connection 96.

In the payoff section 10, each of the payoffs 12 supports a reel 98 fromwhich a strand unit 14 is supplied to the system.

Each strand unit may consist of 25, 50 or 100 wire pairs, in accordancewith conventional telephone cable practice.

Power is supplied to each of the reels in the payoff section but thispower is for the purpose of overcoming the friction, weight, and momentof inertia of the payoffs and it is not sufficient to feed the strandunits 14 from the payoffs. A predetermined and controlled pull ortension on the payoffs is required; and in the system illustrated thistension is supplied by the wrapping of the cable 14b on the reel 39. Byhaving means at each payoff 12 controlling the power supplied to eachpayoff in such a manner as to maintain each strand unit 14 underconstant tension, it is practical to operate the system without theusual capstan for pulling the cable without deformation normally causedby the capstan and with the utmost uniformity of tension in the cable.The elimination of the capstan is one of the new results obtained bythis invention, but features of the invention can be used in systemswhich employ a capstan.

All of the power driving means can be reversed so that cable unwindsfrom the takeup cabler 28, and passes backward through the taping head22 which unwraps the tape and rewinds the paper tapes on the reels 60.Conventional torque motors can be used to maintain the tension on thetapes unwound from the reels 60, these motors turn the wheels in adirection to rewind the tape when the power driving mechanism isreversed to unwind the cable as will c more fully explained indescribing FIGS. 912. The twist compensator, when its rotation isreversed, untwists the cable or strand units so that they pass backthrough the lay plate or separator 16 and rewind on the spools of thepayoffs. When reversing the motors that turn the spools of the payoffs,the power to these motors is increased somewhat to provide the necessarypull for rewinding, but the tension control still operates.

FIGS. 3, 4'and 5 show one of'the payoffs 12. Each payoffincludes a fixedframe 102 which rests on a floor or other support. The frame 102 has anarm 104 connected to each side by a pivot bearing 106; and at the otherends of the arms 104 there are bearings 108 and 109 for supporting thereel 98 on which the strand units are wrapped.

At one end of the reel 98, there are fingers 110 which project ontoopenings in one end of the reel 98 for causing the reel to rotate as aunit with a flange 112 which is an integral part of an axle 114extending through the bearing 109. i

A sprocket 116 is secured to the outer end of the axle 114 and thissprocket 116 is driven from a smaller sprocket 118 by an endless chain120. The sprocket 118 is keyed to ajackshaft 122 to which there isfastened another sprocket 124 driven by a chain 126 from a sprocket 128on an armature shaft 130 of an electric motor 132 secured to the fixedframe 102 of the payoff.

The jackshaft 122 has its axis coincident with the axis of the pivotbearing 106 about which the arms 104 move. This makes it possible toswing the arms 104 without changing the length of the driving chains Iand 126. The arms 104 can be raised and lowered when successive reels 98are to be removed from the payoff and replaced.

This raising and lowering of the arms is accomplished by means ofcylinder and piston motors 136, best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, connectedto the frame 102 by a pivot 138, and connected with the arms 104 byanother pivot 140.

The strand unit 14 unwraps from the reel 98 and passes around a casterpulley 144. This caster pulley 144 is supported by a horn 146 andbracket 148 which swing about a vertical pivot 150 supported from afixed bracket 152 extending from the main frame 102 of the payoff. Thusthe caster pulley 144 can swing into line with the strand unitregardless of the particularportion of the reel 98 that the strand unitmay be coming from at any particular time. There is guard 154 extendingaround a substantial angular portion of the lower part of the pulley144.

After passing around the caster pulley 144, the strand unit 14 travelsupward to a guide pulley 158. This guide pulley rotates about an axlesupported by a bearing 162 on a part of the fixed main frame 102. Beyondthe guide pulley 158, the strand unit passes around a tension controlpulley rotatably supported by an axle 172 at the upper end of an arm 174which is attached to the main frame 102 by a fulcrum bearing 176.

The arm 174 extends for some distance below the fulcrum bearing 176 andis connected with a tension spring 178 (FIG. 5 connected at one end toan anchor 180 on the arm 174 and at the other end to a yoke 182 at theend of a bolt 184 extending through a fixed bracket 186 rigidly attachedto the fixed frame 102 of the payoff. A nut 190 can be screwed one wayor the other along the bolt 184 to regulate the tension of the spring178.

The payoff is oriented so that the pull on the strand unit 14, as thestrand unit is drawn into the system, tends to rock the arm 174counterclockwise about its fulcrum bearing 176, as the arm is viewed inFIG. 5. Thus the pull on the strand unit 14, as indicated by the arrow192, is counter to the force of the spring 178 and the position whichthe arm 174 will occupy at any particular time depends upon thebalancing of the pulling force 192 and the tension of the spring 178.

It will be evident that the amount of tension required to pull theinsulated cable strand unit 14 away from the payoff depends upon theextent to which the torque of the motor 132 overcomes the friction andany other resisting factors which oppose the unwinding of the strandunit 14 fromthe reel 98 and the friction which opposes the rotation ofthe pulleys 144, 158 and 170, and the advancing of the strand unit fromthese pulleys.

The tension is regulated, therefore, by changing the torque of the motor132. This is done by providing a gear 200, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,which moves angularly as a unit with the a arm 174, and which mesheswith a pinion gear 202 on an axle 204 of a rheostat 206 which regulatesthe torque of the motor 172. The rheostat 206 is connected with themotor 132 in such a way as to reduce the torque of the motor when thearm 174 swings clockwise in FIG. 5 and to increase the torque of themotor 132 when the arm 174 swings counterclockwise. By adjusting thetension of the spring 178, the amount of tension on the strand unit tomove the arm 174 into any particular angular position, can be regulated.Thus while the tension is uniform for any particular adjustment, it canbe regulated by changing the adjustment of the spring 178.

The lay plate or separator plate 16 to which the strand units travelfrom the different payoffs 12, is preferably a plate having a separateopening for the strand unit from each of the reels 98. This separator 16thus keeps the strand units at a uniform spacing from one another untilthey pass beyond the plate 16 and thus insures that all of the strandunits are brought together in the twisting operation within the samelength of run so as to obtain uniform results.

FIG. 2 shows the strand units 14 coming into the twist compensator 18.This FIG. shows a fixed frame 212 for supporting the twist compensatorfrom the floor or other underlying support and shows a bracket 214 bywhich the separator 16 is supported from the frame 212. There is a fixedcage 220 over the revolving frame 84 of the twist compensator, and therevolving frame turns in bearings 224 which are supported by the fixedframe 212. There are sleeves 226 at both ends of the revolving frame 84and these sleeves are welded to, and form a part of, the revolving frame84.

The sleeve 226 at the downstream end of the revolving frame 84 issecured to a gear 230 concentric with the sleeve 226 and with the axis46. The gear 230 is driven by another gear 232 on a jackshaft 234 whichis, in turn, driven from the shaft 88 by the belt or chain 92 passingaround a pulley or sprocket 236 on the jackshaft 234.

Further details of the twist compensator are shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.The upper frame 74 has four openings 246 through which parallel rods 248pass. These rods 248 have, athreaded portion 251 with a right-handthread and a threaded portion 252 with a left-hand thread. The lowerthreaded portion 252, of each of the rods 248, screws through an opening254 in the lower frame 80. The upper threaded portion 251 of each therods 248 threads through a thrust element 256 which is attached to theupper frame 74 by screws 258.

Each of the parallel rods 248 has a thrust bearing 262 at its lower endfor preventing downward movement of the rod, 248 with respect to theframe 84; and each of the rods 248 has an upper thrust bearing 264 forpreventing upward movement of the rod with respect to the frame 84.There is a sprocket 266 secured to the upper end of each of the rods248. A chain 268 passes around all of the sprockets 266, as shown inFIG. 8, so that all of the sprockets 266 turn in unison. Anothersprocket 270 engages the outside of one run of the chain 268 at alocation between two of the sprockets 266 and this single sprocket 270maintains the chain 268 under tension and can be rotated by av screwdriver inserted into a slot 272 for the purpose of moving the chain 268one way or the other to turn the sprockets 266 and avoided asconnectedrods 248.

Referring again to FIG. 7, rotation of the rods 248 in one directioncauses the threads 251 and 252 to draw the frames 74 and 80 closertogether. In the preferred operation of the twist compensator, theframes 74 and 80 are brought toward one another until thecircumferential faces of the rollers 70 and 76 grip the assembled strandunits between them with sufficient force to twist the strand units intoa cable as the strand units advance through the twist compensator.

In the illustrated construction, the upper rollers 70, which contactwith one side of the strand unit assembly whilethe lower rollers 76contact with theother side of the assembly, are staggered so as topermit relative movement of the strand units with respect to one anotheras they are twisted into a cable.

The twist compensator frame 84. is preferably rotated at substantiallythe same speed as the revolving takeup cabler to which the cable passesand by which he cable is pulled through the twist compensator. There issome advantage in having'the twist compensator rotated slightly fasterthan the revolving takeup cabler; for example: one-half percent to 1percent faster, so as to insure that thecable will be held againstrelative movement of the strand units, as the result of the revolvingtakeup cabler pull beyond the twist compensator and after theapplication of the tape to the cable. This excess of speed or overfeedis obtained by means of the transmission 90, already illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, which has the gear ratio selected to obtain a slight gainin speed.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show control means for maintaining the tension of thetapes 24 as they come from the reels 60. Each tape passes around a guideroll 280 and then reverses its direction around a dancer roll 282 whichrotates on an axle 284 extending downward from a carriage 286 thatslides along a track consisting of rods 288 which extend generallyparallel to the direction of movement of the cable through theapparatus.

From the dancer roll, the tape 24 extends successively around otherguide rolls 290, 291, 292 and 293 to the cable around which the tapewinds, or unwinds, depending upon the direction of operation of theapparatus. A spring 296 urges the carriage 286 and the dance roll 282 ina direction to increase the loop of tape that extends from the roll 280around the dancer roll 282 to the roll 290.

If the tension in the tape 24 increases, the carriage 286 moves to theright in FIG. 9 along the rods 288. Conversely, any decrease in thetension of the tape permits the loop of tape to increase, and the spring296 moves the carriage 286 toward the left in FIG. 9. The tensioncontroller for the lower tape in FIG. 9 includes a torque motor 298which urges rotation of the tape reel in a direction to supply tape, orwhich turns the reel in a direction to wind tape back from the cablewhen the apparatus is reversed.

Motion of the carriage.286,in;response to change in the tension of thetape, is-transmittedto thetensi change, the, power supplied to thetorque mot change the direction in whichthe motor 298. tend to turn.

, respectively These collector rings 32 1, 322, and 323 arecarried bythe taping head 22 and areconcentric with the axis of rotation of thetaping head. I

A brush 325 of the powerstat operates over a sector 326 having taps atits opposite ends connected with conductors 328 and 330 of thecontroller circuit/The brush 325' at its center of rotation is connectedwith one end of a coil 332; and a center tap 333- of the sector 326 isconnected with the other end of the coil 332 and with another coil 334.

When the tension in the tape rises and the dancer roll loop decreases inlength, the, brush 325. moves toward one end of the sector 326 toincrease the. power of the motor 298 to rotate the motor 298 in adirection to turn the tape reel to unwrap. As the tape tensiondecreases, the, dancer roll moves the brush 325 toward the center tap333 and progressively decreases the. torque of the motor 298. When themotor torque is less than the. friction of the reel and tape, the pullof the cable in wrapping the tape supplies tension.

Ifthe apparatus stops or is reversed, there is no longer any pull on thetape by the cable. In fact, the tape unwinds from the cable when theapparatus is reversed. This increases the length of the, tape in thedancer roll loop and the resulting movement of the dancer roll causesthe powerstat brush 325 to move toward the other end of its sector 326beyond the center tap 333 to reverse the torque of the motor 298 torewind the tape on the reel. Further decrease in the tension causes anincrease in the power of the torque motor to rewind the tape faster andthereby increase the tension in the tape.

The second tape reel on the taping head is driven by a torque motor 298'which iscontrolled by a tension controller similar to that of the motor298 and corresponding parts. are

indicated by the same reference characters with a prime appended. Eachtorque motor 298 and 298' has its own dancer roll and powerstat, butpower for both of the motors and its tape tension control is suppliedthrough the same brushes 311,

312 and 313 and the same slip rings 321, 322 and 323 (FIG. 9-).

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, and the invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A telephone cable assembly system having successive operatingstations including in combination a payoff comprising a plurality ofspool holders for supporting spools each of which has a strand unitwound thereon, means for maintaining the strand units undersubstantially uniform tension as they come from the spool holders, aseparator plate station with separated guides through which differentstrand units pass, said guides holding the strand units spaced from oneanother as they advance toward the nest station, a rotating twistcompensator at the next station beyond the separator plate andconstituting the next structure with which the strand units contactafter passing through the separator plate, said twist compensatorincluding a plurality of successive wheels having rolling contact withthe strand units to eliminate longitudinal friction while bringing thestrands together and gripping the strand units with force for twistingsaid units, a revolving takeup cabler, and a taping head between thecompensator and the takeup cabler, means for rotating the compensator atsubstantially the same speed as the takeup cabler, said compensator andtakeup cabler constituting means for twisting the strand units. togetherinto a cable. I

2. The telephone cable assembly system described in claim 1characterized by power means for driving the takeup cabler and the twistcompensator simultaneously and at substantially the same angular speedof rotation, the power means including a common motorrand,motion-transmitting connections throughewhich the motor rotates lthetwist compensator at a slightly higher speed than that ofthe takeupcabler.

3. The telephonecable assemblysystem described in claim 1 characterizedby the payoff havingtpower means for supplying at least part ofthe;power reqniredv to operate the payoff, and all of the additionalIpowerrequired for advancing the cable from the payoff ;to the takeup cablerbeing supplied by thepull of the takeup cabler on the cable. 4. Thetelephone cable assembly described in claim 1 characterized by includingin combination a revolving takeup cabler on which the cabler winds,twisting means through which strand units pass and that twist the strandunits together into a cable, means for driving the twisting means atsubstanstaggered in the direction of the length of thestrandunitswhereby the strand units have relative movement with respect to oneanother as they are twisted into a cable, a payoff having a plurality ofseparate units each of which comprises a frame having means forrotatably supporting a reel on which strand units consisting of wirepairs are wound, a grooved castor wheel on the frame to which the strandunits run and over which said strand units pass as they unwind from thereel, guide wheels over .which the strand units pass beyond the castorwheel including a final guide wheel across which strand units from thepayoff pass on their way to the twisting means, an arm on each payoffunit angularly movable about an axis and with respect to said frame andby which the final guide wheel is carried, a spring urging the arm toswing one way about said axis, by increase in the pull on the strandunit away from the payoff unit, and a motor that supplies power torotate the reel supported by the frame, means in the electric circuit'of the motor including a device operably connected with the arm andmovable: with the arm in a direction to decrease the power supply of themotor when the arm'is moved in one direction by; the spring and toincrease the power supply of the motor when the arm is' moved inthopposite direction by an increase in the pull onthe strandunit.

5, A telephone cable assembly system Including Pal/Offs for a pluralityofindividual cableunits, a lay plate, a twist compensator beyond thelayplate for winding the cable units into a cable, a tapingheadincluding a tape supply reel from which a tape wraps ,onlthe cable,a takeup cabler beyond the taping head, means for rotating the twistcompensator and takeup cabler at substantially the same .angular speed,and reversable driving means for said payoffs, winding apparatus andtaping head operable to unwind the tape from the cable back onto thetape supply reel, and to disassemble the cable units from the cable andto return them to the payoffs.

6. The telephone cable assembly system described in claim 5characterized by the taping head having a motor means for driving thetape supply reel, and control means responsive to the tension of thetape between the reel and the cable for operating the motor means in adirection to rewind the tape on the reel when the tension in the tape isrelaxed by reversal of the assembly.

7. The telephone cable assemblysystem described in claim 6 characterizedby the motor means having a torque electric motor, and the control meansincluding guide means around which the tape passes as it travels fromthe reel to the cable to form a loop of tape, a dancer roller in contactwith the tape of said loop and that .is movable in response to chan esof the tape m said loop, and an electric circuit with a rush that moveswith thevdancer roller into positions to operate the motor in adirection to assist the unwinding of the tape when the tension is abovea predetermined value and to reverse the motor and increase the reverseforce of the motor progressive ly as the tension of the tape in the loopdrops below said predetermined value. t

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 604192 Dated eptember 14 l 971 Oscar G. Garner Inventor(s) It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 34, "e" should read be Column 4, line 41, "a arm" shouldread arm Column 5, line 23, "avoided as" should read their Column 6,line 65, "nest" should read next Signed and sealed this 1st day ofAugust 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PC4050 (10-59) USCOMM DC 60376 pee U 5 GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE I969 O36G-J3l,

1. A telephone cable assembly system having successive operatingstations including in combination a payoff comprising a plurality ofspool holders for supporting spools each of which has a strand unitwound thereon, means for maintaining the strand units undersubstantially uniform tension as they come from the spool holders, aseparator plate station with separated guides through which differentstrand units pass, said guides holding the strand units spaced from oneanother as they advance toward the nest station, a rotating twistcompensator at the next station beyond the separator plate andconstituting the next structure with which the strand units contactafter passing through the separator plate, said twist compensatorincluding a plurality of successive wheels having rolling contact withthe strand units to eliminate longitudinal friction while bringing thestrands together and gripping the strand units with force for twistingsaid units, a revolving takeup cabler, and a taping head between thecompensator and the takeup cabler, means for rotating the compensator atsubstantially the same speed as the takeup cabler, said compensator andtakeup cabler constituting means for twisting the strand units togetherinto a cable.
 2. The telephone cable assembly system described in claim1 characterized by power means for driving the takeup cabler and thetwist compensator simultaneously and at substantially the same angularspeed of rotation, the power means including a common motor andmotion-transmitting connections through which the motor rotates thetwist compensator at a slightly higher speed than that of the takeupcabler.
 3. The telephone cable assembly system described in claim 1characterized by the payoff having power means for supplying at leastpart of the power required to operate the payoff, and all of theadditional power required for advancing the cable from the payoff to thetakeup cabler being supplied by the pull of the takeup cabler on thecable.
 4. The telephone cable assembly described in claim 1characterized by including in combination a revolving takeup cabler onwhich the cabler winds, twisting means through which strand units passand that twist the strand units together into a cable, means for drivingthe twisting means at substantially the same speed of rotation as therevolving takeup cabler whereby additional twist of the cable is avoidedas the cable passes from the twisting means to the takeup cabler, thetwisting means including groups of wheels that contact with differentsides of the cable to grip it with sufficient force to twist the strandunits together, the wheels of the compensator being staggered in thedirection of the length of the strand units whereby the strand unitshave relative movement with respect to one another as they are twistedinto a cable, a payoff having a plurality of separate unitS each ofwhich comprises a frame having means for rotatably supporting a reel onwhich strand units consisting of wire pairs are wound, a grooved castorwheel on the frame to which the strand units run and over which saidstrand units pass as they unwind from the reel, guide wheels over whichthe strand units pass beyond the castor wheel including a final guidewheel across which strand units from the payoff pass on their way to thetwisting means, an arm on each payoff unit angularly movable about anaxis and with respect to said frame and by which the final guide wheelis carried, a spring urging the arm to swing one way about said axis byincrease in the pull on the strand unit away from the payoff unit, and amotor that supplies power to rotate the reel supported by the frame,means in the electric circuit of the motor including a device operablyconnected with the arm and movable with the arm in a direction todecrease the power supply of the motor when the arm is moved in onedirection by the spring and to increase the power supply of the motorwhen the arm is moved in the opposite direction by an increase in thepull on the strand unit.
 5. A telephone cable assembly system includingpayoffs for a plurality of individual cable units, a lay plate, a twistcompensator beyond the lay plate for winding the cable units into acable, a taping head including a tape supply reel from which a tapewraps on the cable, a takeup cabler beyond the taping head, means forrotating the twist compensator and takeup cabler at substantially thesame angular speed, and reversable driving means for said payoffs,winding apparatus and taping head operable to unwind the tape from thecable back onto the tape supply reel, and to disassemble the cable unitsfrom the cable and to return them to the payoffs.
 6. The telephone cableassembly system described in claim 5 characterized by the taping headhaving a motor means for driving the tape supply reel, and control meansresponsive to the tension of the tape between the reel and the cable foroperating the motor means in a direction to rewind the tape on the reelwhen the tension in the tape is relaxed by reversal of the assembly. 7.The telephone cable assembly system described in claim 6 characterizedby the motor means having a torque electric motor, and the control meansincluding guide means around which the tape passes as it travels fromthe reel to the cable to form a loop of tape, a dancer roller in contactwith the tape of said loop and that is movable in response to changes ofthe tape in said loop, and an electric circuit with a brush that moveswith the dancer roller into positions to operate the motor in adirection to assist the unwinding of the tape when the tension is abovea predetermined value and to reverse the motor and increase the reverseforce of the motor progressively as the tension of the tape in the loopdrops below said predetermined value.